Text -- 2 Timothy 4:1-9 (NET)

Charge to Timothy Repeated

4:1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 4:2 Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction. 4:3 For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things. 4:4 And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths. 4:5 You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry. 4:6 For I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for me to depart is at hand. 4:7 I have competed competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith! 4:8 Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day– and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing.

Travel Plans and Concluding Greetings

4:9 Make every effort to come to me soon.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 2Ti 4:2

¹ tn Or “the word.”

² tn Or “be persistent.”

³ tn Grk “in season, out of season.”

⁴ tn Or “encourage.”

NET Notes: 2Ti 4:3

¹ tn Grk “they”; the referent (the people in that future time) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² tn Grk “in accord with.”

³ tn Grk “having an itching in regard to hearing,” “having itching ears.”

NET Notes: 2Ti 4:4

¹ sn These myths were legendary tales characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus and Crete. See parallels in 1 Tim 1:4; 4:7; and Titus 1:14.

NET Notes: 2Ti 4:5

¹ tn Or “sober,” “temperate.”

NET Notes: 2Ti 4:6

¹ tn Grk “of my departure.”

NET Notes: 2Ti 4:7

¹ sn The expression I have competed well (Grk “I have competed the good competition”) uses words that may refer to a race or to a boxing or wrestling match: “run the good race” or “fight the good fight.” The similar phrase in 1 Tim 1:18 uses a military picture and is more literally “war the good warfare.”

NET Notes: 2Ti 4:8

¹ tn Grk “all who have loved.”